DJ Unk (1982–2025), Walk It Out, 2 Step rapper

Anthony Platt , known by the stage name DJ Unk, was an Atlanta-based rap artist who had snap hits with “Walk It Out” and “2 Step” in 2006.

Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States of America, serving from 1977 to 1981.

Rico Carty (1939–2024), 1970 NL batting champion

Rico Carty was a veteran Major League Baseball player best known for his time with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, winning the National League batting title in 1970 with a .366 average.

Tommy Hart (1944–2024), 49ers defensive end 

Tommy Hart was an NFL defensive end in the 1960s through ‘80s, most notably for the San Francisco 49ers.

Billy Shaw (1938–2024), eight-time AFL All-Star football player

Billy Shaw was a star guard for the Buffalo Bills who made the AFL All-Star squad eight times and won back-to-back AFL championships with the team.

Dikembe Mutombo (1966–2024), Hall of Fame NBA shot-blocker

Dikembe Mutombo was an NBA star known for his towering height and his shot-blocking skills.

Tina McElroy Ansa (1949–2024), author explored the Black experience

Tina McElroy Ansa was an award-winning author best known for works like “Baby of the Family” and “Ugly Ways,” which explored the Black experience in the American South.

Rich Homie Quan (1989–2024), Type of Way rapper

Dequantes Devontay Lamar , better known as Rich Homie Quan, was an Atlanta rapper known for trap hits like “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).”

Russell Malone (1963–2024), acclaimed jazz guitarist

Russell Malone was an acclaimed jazz guitarist who has worked with noted artists such as Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, and many others.

Shay Youngblood (1959–2024), award-winning novelist and playwright

Shay Youngblood was an award-winning novelist and playwright who explored her upbringing as a Black woman in America.

James Gregory (1946–2024), “Funniest Man in America” comedian

James Gregory was a standup comedian known by his fans as the “Funniest Man in America.” 

Rico Wade (1972–2024), key player in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene

Rico Wade was a member of the Atlanta-based production trio Organized Noize, a key player in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, and one of the architects of the “Dirty South” sound.

Ralph Puckett Jr. (1926–2024), last Korean War Medal of Honor recipient 

Ralph Puckett Jr. was an Army Ranger who served with valor in the Korean War and received the Medal of Honor more than 70 years later.

Naomi Barber King (1931–2024), civil rights activist 

Naomi Barber King was a civil rights activist who married Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King (1930–1969), brother of Rev. .

Brit Turner (1967–2024), Blackberry Smoke drummer

Brit Turner was the drummer for the country rock band Blackberry Smoke. 

Ole Anderson (1942–2024), pro wrestler with Four Horsemen 

Ole Anderson was a pro wrestler who joined with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard to form the Four Horseman wrestling team.

Fulton Kuykendall (1953–2024), Atlanta Falcons linebacker 

Fulton Kuykendall was a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1970s and ‘80s as part of their “Gritz Blitz” defense.

Dick Nunis (1932–2023), Disney exec who expanded theme park empire

Dick Nunis was a longtime Disney executive who oversaw the company’s efforts to expand its theme parks outside of California.

Rosalynn Carter (1927–2023), former first lady of the United States

Rosalynn Carter was first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981, wife to 39th President Jimmy Carter.

Brandi Mallory (1983–2023), Extreme Weight Loss star and influencer 

Brandi Mallory was a makeup artist who starred on the reality show “Extreme Weight Loss.” 

Taraja Ramsess (1982–2023), stuntman in Black Panther 

Taraja Ramsess was a stunt performer known for his work in such movies as “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Endgame.” 

Andy Bean (1953–2023), 11-time PGA Tour winner 

Andy Bean was a professional golfer who won 11 PGA tour events and was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

Jeff Burr (1963–2023), director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III 

Jeff Burr was a filmmaker who worked on popular horror franchises like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Puppet Master,” and “Pumpkinhead.” 

Bill Pinkney (1935–2023), pioneering sailor 

Bill Pinkney was the first Black sailor to make a solo circumnavigation of the globe via the notoriously difficult southern route, around the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.

Pat Corrales (1941–2023), first Mexican American MLB manager

Pat Corrales spent five decades in Major League Baseball (MLB), beginning as a player before moving on to managing and coaching. He was the first Mexican American MLB manager.

Annabelle Ham (2000–2023), YouTube vlogger 

Annabelle Ham was a college student who shared lifestyle and beauty tips on her YouTube vlog. 

The Iron Sheik (1942–2023), pro wrestling superstar

Hossain Khosrow Ali Vaziri , better known as The Iron Sheik , was a professional wrestler who won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983.

Ralph Boston (1939–2023), record-breaking Olympic gold medalist 

Ralph Boston was a long jumper who won Olympic gold in 1960 and broke Jesse Owens’ longstanding record.

Larry “Gator” Rivers (1949–2023), Harlem Globetrotters dribbling star 

Larry “Gator” Rivers was a longtime member of the Harlem Globetrotters known for his dribbling skills.

Otis Redding III (1963–2023), guitarist with the Reddings

Otis Redding III was the guitarist for the funk band the Reddings, as well as the son of soul legend .

Rev. Charles Stanley (1932–2023), influential In Touch Ministries pastor 

The Rev. Charles Stanley was an influential pastor known for his TV and radio program, “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.”

Dean Daughtry (1946–2023), Atlanta Rhythm Section co-founder

Dean Daughtry was the keyboardist and a founding member of the southern rock band Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Anton Walkes (1997–2023), soccer player with Charlotte FC

Anton Walkes was an English soccer player with the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs Charlotte FC and Atlanta United.

Vince Dooley (1932–2022), legendary former Georgia football coach   

Vince Dooley was the winningest football coach at the University of Georgia who led them to a National Championship in 1980.

Charley Trippi (1921–2022), oldest living Pro Football Hall of Famer

Charley Trippi was a Pro Football Hall of Famer who won the 1947 NFL Championship with the Chicago Cardinals.

Charles Sherrod (1937–2022), civil rights leader

Charles Sherrod was a civil rights leader who co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson (1972–2022), gospel singer

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson was a gospel singer known for songs including “Let Go and Let God.”

Archie Eversole (1984–2022), rapper known for “We Ready”

Archie Eversole was an Atlanta-based rapper best known for his 2002 hit “We Ready.”

Scott Hall (1958–2022), pro wrestler known as Razor Ramon

Scott Hall was a star of pro wrestling best known for his heel character, Razor Ramon, and as part of World Championship Wrestling’s (WCW) New World Order.

Johnny Isakson (1944–2021), U.S. senator from Georgia

Johnny Isakson was a Republican who represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate from 2005 to 2019.

Max Cleland (1942–2021), U.S. senator from Georgia

Max Cleland was a disabled Vietnam veteran and a former Democratic U.S. senator from Georgia.

Duke Bootee (1951–2021), influential rapper who co-wrote “The Message”

Duke Bootee , born Edward Fletcher, was an early rapper who co-wrote the influential hip-hop song “The Message,” performed by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Roy Charles Hammond (2020), legendary soul singer

Roy Charles Hammond was a legendary soul singer known as Roy C. His best-known song was “Shotgun Wedding,” a top 20 R&B hit in 1965.   

“Bullet” Bob Armstrong (1939–2020), WWE Hall of Fame wrestler

“Bullet” Bob Armstrong was a professional wrestler whose career spanned five decades, from 1960 to his final match in 2009. His four sons became professional wrestlers and he partnered with them in tag team matches at various points in his career.

Todd Nance (1962–2020), original Widespread Panic drummer

Todd Nance was the original drummer for the popular Southern rock jam band Widespread Panic. He left the band in 2016.   

John Lewis (1940-2020), civil rights legend & U.S. Rep. from Georgia

John Lewis , the long-serving U.S. representative from Georgia who was one of the most prominent leaders of the American civil rights movement, died Friday, July 17, his family announced in a statement.

Johnny Walker (1934–2020), pro wrestler known as “Mr. Wrestling II”

Johnny Walker was a pro wrestler known as “Mr. Wrestling II,” who was a star in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Little Richard (1932–2020), one of the founding fathers of rock & roll

Little Richard, the flamboyant father of rock ‘n’ roll whose “Tutti Frutti” changed the world, died Saturday at the age of 87.

Leroy Johnson (1929–2019), Georgia’s first Black senator after Reconstruction

Leroy Johnson was Georgia’s first Black state senator elected after Reconstruction, serving from 1963 to 1975. While serving in Georgia’s legislature, Johnson played a pivotal role in desegregating the state capitol building. Also an attorney, Johnson used his knowledge of the law and his status as a state lawmaker to have Muhammad Ali’s boxing license reinstated in 1970 after it had been stripped in 1966 for his refusal to be drafted. Johnson ran for mayor of Atlanta in 1973, but he lost to Maynard Jackson, who became Atlanta’s first Black mayor and served three terms. Johnson was honored in 2017 with the State Bar of Georgia’s Lifetime Achievement Award.